"The TNI personnel came there after the incident happened, thus don`t draw the conclusion as if their coming brought about the mass clash, because the TNI (coming) did not trigger violence," Admiral Agus said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Military chief Admiral Agus Suhartono here on Friday refuted allegations that military personnel were involved in human right violations in Mesuji district, Lampung province.

"Regarding the Mesuji affair, we should be able to analyze the time the photos on the incident were made. After we checked the photos and the video footage, it was confirmed that no TNI personnel were involved in the incident," the TNI chief said.

According to him, the TNI personnel were not there when the case happened.

"The TNI personnel came there after the incident happened, thus don`t draw the conclusion as if their coming brought about the mass clash, because the TNI (coming) did not trigger violence," Admiral Agus said.

According to him, the TNI personnel`s arrival following the incident was aimed at controlling the security conditions.

In the meantime, on Thursday, Lampung police said two clashes happened between local residents and police in Mesuji district, Lampung province, during 2011.

Lampung regional police command spokesperson Adjunct Senior Commissioner Sulistyaningsih said on Thursday, during the clashes, two people were killed by police fire but harsh sanctions had been imposed on the officers who had opened fire in violation of standing procedures.

She made the statement following Mesuji villagers` report to the House Commission III on Wednesday.

She said the first incident occurred early in 2011 when a joint team was conducting a law enforcement operation on land belonging to PT Sylva Inhutani leaving one villager, identified as Made Aste, dead.

The operation led to a clash between police personnel and hundreds of villagers.

Following the incident the operation was stopped and suspended for six months.

When the six-month period expired in September 2011, hundreds of police personnel assisted by security guards drove away villagers and destroyed their houses at Register 45, Mesuji.

The conflict started when two private companies which obtained concession rights from Forestry ministry namely PT Sumber Wangi Alam (SWA) at Sungai Sodong Mesuji area, South Sumatra and PT Silva Inhutanidi at Mesuji, Lampung expanded the cultivation land for oil palm and rubber in 2003.

Part of the expanded land was cultivated by the local people and claimed it as the customary land.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011